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Adoptees and Eating Disorders
February 8 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am PST
Adoptees are at increased risk for developing an eating disorder, among many other comorbidities such as substance abuse and complex mental health conditions. The reality is that the adoption process itself is traumatic, even if the adoptee and/or the clinician do not yet recognize this.
Together, we will explore common types of adoptions in the U.S., various ways in which adoption trauma may show up throughout one’s life, and ways in which the eating disorder can manifest. My hope for this presentation is to shed light on the adoption process from an adoptee’s perspective—one that is often overlooked—and support your capacity to begin to understand an adoptee’s journey as they develop their own sense of racial/cultural identity and the path to healing their relationship with food and body image.
Learning Objectives:
After attending this webinar, attendees will:
- Understand the difference between the most common types of adoptions and the unique ways in which an eating disorder/disordered eating may manifest.
- Identify the impact of adoptee trauma in early life and ongoing adverse experiences on emotional development, behavior and identity formation.
- Identify and describe core clinical issues commonly seen in adoptees with eating disorders.
- Describe how to make effective nutrition interventions and ways to support adoptees through recovery.
Laura Iu (she/her) Bio:
Laura Iu (she/her) RD, CDN, CNSC, RYT is a Chinese Asian American registered dietitian and yoga guide. She is the founder of Laura Iu Nutrition, in NYC. Prior to opening her private practice, Laura worked at Mount Sinai and NYU Langone’s critical care units, bringing forth extensive experience working with a wide range of medical and surgical conditions, using a weight-inclusive and trauma-informed approach. Within her private practice, she navigates eating disorders, holding space for patients of color, and reimagining the recovery process, especially for those who hold marginalized identities, complex traumas, and/or limited access to care as well as adoptees. Additionally, Laura provides supervision and mentorship to RDs of color, advocates for change within the ED community, and enjoys leveraging partnerships to increase representation across fields.